Effects of a stress-reduction program on psychological function, pain, and physical function of syst

A study at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggests that a brief stress reduction program will help people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with pain, psychological resilence and physical function..

In a randomized, controlled, clinical trial at The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, researchers assessed the effects of a stress-reduction program on pain, psychological function, and physical function in persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who experience pain.

The study found that BF/CBT participants had significantly greater reductions in pain and psychological dysfunction as compared with the SMS group (pain, P = 0.044; psychological functioning, P < 0.001) and the UC group (pain, P = 0.028; psychological functioning, P < 0.001). In addition, the BF/CBT group had significantly greater improvement in perceived physical function as compared with UC (P = 0.035), and improvement relative to SMS was marginally significant (P = 0.097). At a 9-month followup evaluation, BF/CBT continued to exhibit relative benefit compared with UC in psychological functioning (P = 0.023).

The study’s outcomes support the utility of a brief stress management program for short-term improvement in pain, psychological function, and perceived physical function among persons with SLE who experience pain.

Psychotherapist, author and guided imagery pioneer Belleruth Naparstek is the creator of the popular Health Journeys guided imagery audio series. Her latest book on imagery and posttraumatic stress, Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal (Bantam Dell), won the Spirituality & Health Top 50 Books Award